Management Team

Ms. Lee has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer since May 2019. Prior to her promotion to Chief Executive Officer, she served as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Hanmi and Hanmi Bank since August 2013. She was promoted to serve as our President on June 15, 2018. She was the Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of BBCN Bank and BBCN Bancorp, Inc., where she was named Acting President and Chief Operating Officer from February 2013 to April 2013 and led an Executive Council carrying out the duties of the Chief Executive Officer during a management transition period at BBCN Bank. Prior to this, Ms. Lee served as director and Regional President of the Western Region for Shinhan Bank America from September 2008 to March 2009. Prior to joining Shinhan Bank America, she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer at Nara Bank from April 2005 to September 2008, and as a Member of the Office of the President from March 2006 to September 2008. Ms. Lee earned her B.S. degree in business administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago and completed an executive program in corporate strategy from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Mr. Santarosa has served as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Hanmi and Hanmi Bank since November 2015 and brings more than 30 years of experience in banking and financial services. Over his career, he has been responsible for leading and directing growth strategies, cost reduction and process improvement initiatives, technology implementations and capital management. Most recently, since June 2013, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Opus Bank, where he was responsible for operational and support functions. Prior to this, Mr. Santarosa served as the Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at First California Financial Group, Inc. and its bank subsidiary, First California Bank (November 2002 to May 2013). Before 2002, Mr. Santarosa served in leadership positions with several financial institutions and was an Audit Senior Manager with Price Waterhouse. Mr. Santarosa earned his B.S. degree in accounting and a minor in mathematics from Ithaca College.

Mr. Kim has served as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer since 2023, prior to that he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer since 2020. He joined Hanmi Bank as Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer in September 2013, and served in that capacity until his promotion. Prior to his tenure with Hanmi Bank, he was Senior Vice President and District Manager at BBCN Bank for five years. Mr. Kim has over 25 years of banking experience, with significant expertise in commercial and retail banking. Mr. Kim earned his B.A. degree in business administration from California State University and is a graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School.